Exercise device

ABSTRACT

A device for use in performing isometric exercises having a handle and a weight at one end of the handle offset from the longitudinal, turning axis of the handle. The handle defines a plurality of grasping positions for varying the effective torque of the weight relative to the user&#39;&#39;s hands. The mass of the weight is selectively adjustable.

United States Patent 11 1 Brethen 1451 Apr. 1, 1975 EXERCISE DEVICE [76]Inventor: Chester Arthur Brethen, 2138B Bugen Rd., Glenview, 111. 60025[22] Filed: July 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 381,210

[52] US. Cl. 272/81, 272/84 [51] Int. Cl A63b 23/00 [58] Field of Search272/81, 84, 67; 273/193 A, 273/81 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 588,350 8/1897 Perkins 272/84 1,013,782 1/1912 Koch 272/841,213,370 1/1917 Hillerich 273/81 R 2,640,696 6/1953 Lemieux 272/842,719,038 9/1955 Massa 272/84 X 3,226,115 12/1965 Underhill 272/81 X3,351,346 11/1967 Strahan 273/193A 3,414,260 12/1968 Gust ..272/81XOTHER PUBLICATIONS Ravenstein & Hulley, Gymnastics and Athletics,6/1882, pp. 267 & 268.

Primary ExaminerPaul E. Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hofgren,Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [57] ABSTRACT 8 Claims, 4 DrawingFigures EXERCISE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to exercise devices, and in particularto exercise devices for use in performing isometric exercises.

2. Description of the Prior Art A number of devices have been utilizedin connection with exercising. One conventional form of such device isthat of a gymnastic, or Indian, club in which a weight is mounted at oneend of a handle. An early form of such a club is shown in U.S. LettersPat. No. 578,230 issued to R. R. Gibson wherein a weight is adjustablymounted to a stem having a handle at one end. A modified form of such anIndian club is shown in U.S. Letters Pat. No. 1,658,108 to T. E. Vaughnwherein an arm developer is provided with a stem, a gripping handle atone end of the stem, and a sleeve adjustably mounted on the stem foradjustably carrying the weight.

Another form of exercise device somewhat similar to the Indian club isthe dumbbell, or barbell, device wherein a pair of weights are disposedat opposite ends ofa handle, U.S. Letters Pat. No. 660,962 of D. .1.Kennedy shows such a dumbbell which may be selectively rearranged todefine an Indian club. Thus, in the dumbbell configuration, the handledefines a grasping portion at the center of the device, whereas in theIndian club arrangement, the handle extends in one direction from theweight. Other forms of known dumbbells are those shown in G. H. ShepherdU.S. Pat. No. 787,407, P. W. Smith U.S. Pat. No. l,9l8,l42, S.Trzesniewski U.S. Pat. No. 2,447,218, M. O. OBrien U.S. Pat. No.2.676,802, British Pat. No. 3696 of Hardy and Padmore.

A more recent form of exercise has been developed based on observationsthat muscle development may be effected without use of exercisesinvolving movement of the muscles. Thus, a form of static exercise hasbeen developed known as isometrics wherein muscles are caused to reactagainst one another or against an immovable object for creating tensionin the muscles without any substantial motion. In such exercises, themuscle fibers are caused to contract vigorously to provide the necessarytension. Retaining the contracted muscle in this condition for a periodof time causes development of the muscle by utilizing an overloadprinciple wherein the muscle reacts by slightly rebuilding itself due toan overload fatigue condition. It has been found that not only are themuscles built up but also the tendons and ligaments apparently gainadditional strength.

The conventional isometric exercise is conducted by applying musculartension acting against an immovable object such as a secured rope, bar,door jam, chair, other muscles, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends the provisionof an improved device for use in isometric exercises substantiallyincreasing the usefulness of the exercises in a .novel and simplemanner;

More specifically, the present invention comprehends providing anisometric exercise device including a manually graspable handle defininga turning axis, a weight having a preselected mass, and means connectingthe weight to the handle to space the center of the mass from the axisto provide a torque acting about the axis.

By virtue of the rotational torque, different sets of the users musclesare affected depending on the direction of extension of the weight fromthe axis. Thus, illustratively, if the user grasps the handle with hisright hand with with the weight extending outwardly, or to the right,certain outer muscles of the users arm and shoulder are brought intoplay in resisting the resultant torque. Alternatively, if the Weight isdisposed to extend inwardly, or to the left, different, inner muscles ofthe users arm and different muscles of the shoulder are brought intoplay.

By selectively grasping different portions of the handle, a variation inthe amount of torque produced by the weight is obtained. Similarly, avariation in the amount of torque may be obtained by holding the handleat different angles to the horizontal.

Still further, a variation in the torque may be effected in the presentinvention by providing the weight with selectively removable portions.Thus, the weight is not only selectively adjustable as to total mass,but also as to the location of the center of mass from the longitudinalaxis of the handle providing adjustability not only in the torque asmeasured parallel to the handle, but also as to the rotational torqueabout the axis of the handle.

Thus, the present device provides an effectively infinite adjustabilityin the amount of torque produced which is resisted by the users musclessubstantially without any movement. Thus, the present exercise deviceprovides increased efficacy in conducting isometric exercises. Thedevice, in effect, becomes an extension of the users arms and by virtueof the adjustability of the moment arm of the effective weight, providesa substantial variable increase in the effective weight of the device sothat a relatively small mass may be utilized as the weight while yetproviding substantial strain against a users muscles as desired.

By virtue of the adjustability of the grasping of the handle, the usermay utilize the device initially to provide relatively low reactionforces and increase them gradually during the conduction of a givenexercise. Further, by virtue of the removability of portions of theweight, the user may similarly gradually increase the amount of forceinvolved in the exercises both during individual exercise periods andover extended periods of time.

Because of the small size and relatively light total weight of thedevice, it may be readily transported and may be used in the home, atthe office, etc. The device may be utilized while the user is engaged inother activities, such as while talking on the telephone, etc.

While the isometric exercise produced involves substantial stressing ofthe muscles, the avoidance of motion effectively minimizes perspirationand, thus, the device may be utilized with the user conventionallydressed and without requiring subsequent showering, etc. The device maybe utilized not only while the user is stationary, but also .whilewalking or otherwise moving and may be utilized with the user in anyposition such as sitting, standing, or lying down. The device may beutilized while the user is watching television, listenting torecordings, or in fact, in almost any activity.

The use of the device need only be for relatively short periods of timeat intervals such as once a day while yet such short intermittent usehas been found to be highly efficacious in strengthening the usersmuscles and general body tone.

The device may further be of substantial value to athletes in differentactivities such as weightlifting, golf, track and field events, tennis,swimming, skiing, baseball, basketball, football, etc. In using thedevice in connection with such games or sports, the device may bepositioned by the user to simulate the position of the portion of theusers body where maximum effort is required. Thus, for example, wherethe device is used by a tennis player, it may be retained above theplayers head with the players arm extended as at the point of impactwith the ball during service. The device may be held in differentdesired positions, as the different positions in a golf stroke, and inparticular, may be positioned slightly above the ball striking positionso as to provide maximum strength increase to the muscles substantiallyin the impact arrangement.

The device may be utilized by men or women with equal facility by virtueof the adjustability of the effectiveness of the weight. It has beenfound that such isometric exercises are particularly advantageous forwomen as they tend to firm flabby muscles without producing bulgingmuscles.

The present exercise device is extremely simple and economical ofconstruction while yet providing the above discussed highly desirablefeatures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a user utilizing an exercisedevice embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof with a portion broken away tofacilitate illustration of the construction of the device;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view illustrating the disposition of the weight indifferent rotational positions about the axis of the handle forexercising different muscles of the users arm and body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment ofthe invention as disclosed in the drawing, an exercise device generallydesignated is shown to comprise a manually graspable handle 11, a weight12, and a connecting means 13 connecting the weight to one end of thehandle.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, handle 11 is elongated and defines alongitudinal axis 14. The handle has a substantial length permitting theuser to grasp the handle selectively at an infinite number of positionsalong the length thereof to vary correspondingly the moment arm from theportion of the handle so grasped to the center of mass 15 of the weight12. The handle is preferably covered with a soft cover 16 forfacilitated use of the device. The handle may be formed of a rigidmaterial, such as metal, and connector 13 may similarly be formed of arigid material, such as metal, suitably secured to one end 17 of thehandle.

As shown in FIG. 2, connector 13 defines a turned distal portion 18which displaces the center of mass 15 of weight 12 substantially fromthe longitudinal axis 14 of the handle thereby providing effectively arotational torque by the weight about the handle axis when the userholds the handle, as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 4. Therotational torque may be selectively eliminated by disposing the centerof mass 15 vertically above or below the longitudinal axis, as shown infull lines in FIG. 4, as desired by the user. Positioning the weight atdifferent angles relative to the vertical, obviously produces differenteffective torques as desired by the user with the maximum torque beingthat effected by the full outward disposition of the weight as shown inbroken lines in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, weight 12 may comprise a primary portion 19 andauxiliary portions 20 and 21 selectively secured to one end 22 of theprimary portion by suitable means, such as screw 23 which permits theauxiliary portion to be removed in a direction perpendicular to the axis14 of the handle portion 17. Thus, auxiliary portions 20 and 21 areselectively removable to vary the total mass of weight 12 as well as thespacing of the center of mass from the handle axis 14. Thus, furtheradjustability in the use of the device is provided increasing theusefulness by persons having a wide range of strength and muscledevelopment requirements. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the primary portion19 of weight 12 may be secured to the distal end 18 of connector 13 byreceiving end 18 in a suitable recess 24 in' the weight. End 18 may besuitably secured in recess 24 as by epoxy adhesive, etc. One form ofexercise device found to provide excellent isometric exercising utilizeda weight having a primary portion of 3 pounds mass with the auxiliaryweights having a weight of approximately /1 pounds each. The handle wasapproximately 12 inches long with the connector extending approxmately 4inches from end 17 of the handle and with the center of mass of thecomplete weight 12 spaced approximately 3 inches from the axis 14. Theseparameters are illustrative only and as discussed above, may be variedsuitably as desired.

The use of the isometric exercise device may be coordinated withisotonic exercises as desired by the user. However, as the isometricexercise device may be utilized almost anywhere and at any time in thenormal activies of the user, it has been found that a major use of thedevice is for use in conducting isometric exercises independently ofother exercises. It has been found that such isometric exercisingprovides substantial improvement in muscle tone, weight control, andoverall body conditioning to provide an improved physical fitness of theuser in a simple, safe manner.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of thebroad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

I claim:

1. A device for use in isometric exercises, comprising: a manuallygraspable handle having a grasping portion defining a turning axis andonly a single connecting portion turned from said grasping portion; aweight having a preselected mass; and means connecting the weighteccentrically to said handle connecting portion to extend outwardly fromthe distal end of the handle connecting portion and space the center ofsaid mass from said grasping portion axis beyond the distal end of theconnecting portion to provide a preselected torque acting about saidaxis, said weight comprising a plurality of separable portions at theouter end of the weight spaced from said handle connecting portion forselectively adjusting the spacing of the center of gravity of said masssubstantially perpendicularly from said axis while substantiallymaintaining the spacing of the center of gravity from the graspingportion in a direction parallel to said axis.

2. The exercise device of claim 1 including means removably securingsaid weight portions to each other in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to said axis permitting the weight to have a selectivelyvariable mass.

3. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein means are provided forsecuring said weight portions to each other.

4. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein means are provided forsecuring said weight portions to each other in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to said axis.

5. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein one weight portion is fixedlysecured to said handle connecting portion and a second weight portion isremovably secured to said one weight portion by securing meanscomprising a screw element extending through the removable weightportion and threaded to the weight portion fixedly secured to the handleconnecting portion.

6. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein one weight portion is fixedlysecured to said handle connecting portion and a second weight portion isremovably secured to said one weight portion by securing means, said oneweight portion having a weight of at least approximately four times thatof the removable weight portion.

7. A device for use in isometric exercises comprising: a manuallygraspable handle having a grasping portion defining a turning axis andonly a single connecting portion turned from said grasping portion; aweight having a preselected mass; and means connecting the weighteccentrically to said handle connecting portion to extend outwardly fromthe distal end of the handle connecting portion and space the center ofsaid mass from said grasping portion axis beyond the distal end of theconnecting portion to provide a preselected torque acting about saidaxis, said weight comprising a plurality of separable portions at theouter end of the weight spaced from said handle connecting portion forselectively adjusting the spacing of the center of gravity of said masssubstantially perpendicularly from said axis while substantiallymaintaining the spacing of the center of gravity from the graspingportion in a direction parallel to said axis, said handle graspingportion having a length substantially greater than the width of a usershand to permit the user to grasp the handle at any one of a plurality ofdifferent positions lengthwise thereof to provide a variable torqueacting transversely to said axis.

8. The exercise device of claim 7 wherein a soft cover is providedlengthwise of substantially the entire handle grasping portion.

1. A device for use in isometric exercises, comprising: a manuallygraspable handle having a grasping portion defining a turning axis andonly a single connecting portion turned from said grasping portion; aweight having a preselected mass; and means connecting the weighteccentrically to said handle connecting portion to extend outwardly fromthe distal end of the handle connecting portion and space the center ofsaid mass from said grasping portion axis beyond the distal end of theconnecting portion to provide a preselected torque acting about saidaxis, said weight comprising a plurality of separable portions at theouter end of the weight spaced from said handle connecting portion forselectively adjusting the spacing of the center of gravity of said masssubstantially perpendicularly from said axis while substantiallymaintaining the spacing of the center of gravity from the graspingportion in a direction parallel to said axis.
 2. The exercise device ofclaim 1 including means removably securing said weight portions to eachother in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axis permittingthe weight to have a selectively variable mass.
 3. The exercise deviceof claim 1 wherein means are provided for securing said weight portionsto each other.
 4. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein means areprovided for securing said weight portions to each other in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to said axis.
 5. The exercise device ofclaim 1 wherein one weight portion is fixedly secured to said handleconnecting portion and a second weight portion is removably secured tosaid one weight portion by securing means comprising a screw elementextending through the removable weight portion and threaded to theweight portion fixedly secured to the handle connecting portion.
 6. Theexercise device of claim 1 wherein one weight portion is fixedly securedto said handle connecting portion and a second weight portion isremovably secured to said one weight portion by securing means, said oneweight portion having a weight of at least approximately four times thatof the removable weight portion.
 7. A device for use in isometricexercises comprising: a manually graspable handle having a graspingportion defining a turning axis and only a single connecting portionturned from said grasping portion; a weight having a preselected mass;and means connecting the weight eccentrically to said handle connectingportion to extend outwardly from the distal end of the handle connectingportion and space the center of said mass from said grasping portionaxis beyond the distal end of the connecting portion to provide apreselected torque acting about said axis, said weight comprising aplurality of separable portions at the outer end of the weight spacedfrom said handle connecting portion for selectively adjusting thespacing of the center of gravity of said mass substantiallyperpendicularly from said axis while substantially maintaining thespacing of the center of gravity from the grasping portion in adirection parallel to said axis, said handle grasping portion having alength substantially greater than the width of a user''s hand to permitthe user to grasp the handle at any one of a plurality of differentpositions lengthwise thereof to provide a variable torque actingtransversely to said axis.
 8. The exercise device of claim 7 wherein asoft cover is provided lengthwise of substantially the entire handlegrasping portion.